A New Year

I saw this on facebook.

I think it's a great idea.  It might be done on this blog, though.

I'm not big on resolutions because I think you should set goals at any time.  That said, last year I did have a resolution:  to finally get my kitchen remodeled!  That one was accomplished.

For the upcoming year, I have several professional goals, which I won't bore you all with here.  These could mean some pretty big changes for me, which is scary, but hopefully good.

Personally, I want to get my house de-cluttered.  This is a summer goal since it will be an If You Give a Mouse a Cookie type of thing.

I'm already looking forward to some travel this spring.  In February I'm visiting my friend, Suzy, in San Diego.  Over spring break, Suzy and I are going to Washington D.C. just in time for the Cherry Blossom Festival.  Summer travel is dependent on the professional and personal goals above, but I'm hoping to do a sort of road trip through some states I haven't visited yet, and see a few friends along the way.

Gratitudes from 2012

Several things happened in 2012 which I am very grateful for.

I had visits from several friends:  Ann, Jenn-Cali, Suzy, and Judy-Nut.

I loved going tubing for the first time with Jenn-Cali.  It was quite the adventure.  I got to see San Diego's lovely bay and have a great visit with Suzy.  Got to see Ann twice!  Both times had a great dinner.  I met Judy-Nut for the first time along with Betty and we had a late lunch at the new mall downtown.

I went on my very first ever business trip to New Orleans.  I learned a lot of great things and had a nice review of stuff I already knew, but needed to hear again.  I got to know some of my co-workers better and have a great time learning during the day and having fun (and eating and eating and eating) at night.

My cat got very sick.  I spent a couple of weeks feeding her with a syringe.  Thankfully, the vet was able to bring her back.  She's minus a few teeth now, but has her spunk back.  I'm so glad she's still here with me.  I know she's getting old and the end is inevitable, but she's my "baby" even if she's a psycho cat.

I am very grateful for all my friends, old and new.  They help keep me sane!  (Well, sort of sane.)

I am thankful for my family.  They are my rock.  I am so blessed to have a family that I never doubt will be there for me.

I was given a grant through Chevron and Donorschoose.org for 8 ipod touches which my students love!

I am thankful for my health and my home and all the lovely technological comforts I'd probably go nuts without.

I'm sure I've forgotten more than one important thing about 2012.  So much happens in a year!  I'm wishing all of you a happy 2013.

Joell

It's finished!

The contractor actually finished in the kitchen last month.  I decided to wait for my kitchen table before I posted pictures.  The table came today, so here they are.  :)

The new table

The view from the new table

Sink and backsplash

A look through the kitchen to the dining area.

Sink area.

I am so thankful to have such a nice new kitchen and to have it all done!  I guess I'll have to think about something else to write about on this blog now.  :)

Backsplash Frustration

Hi all,

We hit a snag this week.  The tile company we got the backsplash tiles from miscalculated how much of each kind of tile were needed for the pattern of my backsplash.  It's been ordered but won't be in until Thursday.  They did put in what they can, and I got tired of waiting and moved my kitchen table in.  I'm really liking the backsplash where it's actually kinda in.

If it wasn't for the dumb car, I'd have a new table and chairs.  Oh well.

Hopefully, I'll have a completely finished kitchen soon.

Some Progress on the backsplash

Hi all!

Well, they came and fixed where my floor was torn up.  I'm not sure I'm happy with the fix, so I'm living with it for a while to see if it will bug me or not.

Tonight I used my oven and stove for the first time!  I made spaghetti and garlic bread.  It was yummy!

Don't ask me why I chose the biggest pot I have to make one small bit of spaghetti. LOL

They started putting in backsplash tiles.  Here's the small area that they did today.

Of course, it'll look better when the spacers are gone...

Here you can see it with the counter and the cabinet.  I think I'm going to like it. I hope so, because I'm stuck with it now!  

So, that's the latest on the kitchen.  We're almost there!  I'm still toying with the idea of buying a new kitchen table set.  If it wasn't for my stupid car, I wouldn't even have to think about it.  Even if I don't get one now, I'll eventually get one.

Thanks for reading!

Joell

Tears in my floor. Wah.

I was so excited yesterday!  Today I had more time and less excitement and discovered there are several tears in my new vinyl floor.  I'm hoping this is fixable.  Trying not to worry about it.  :(

Joell

Plumbing, Wiring, Appliances! Oh My!

Hi all,

I have electricity and plumbing.  The appliances are in place!  Backsplashes and floor boards and it'll be done!!  I'm not sure if I like the light fixture for the dining room.  It hangs lower than I imagined. Now I guess I need to start working on vacuuming and lining shelves, cleaning the floor and starting to get things moved into the kitchen!

Sink and dishwasher

Light fixture

Microwave

Oven/stove

Yay!  The microwave is in!

I have a faucet!  The fridge is in!

Light fixtures.  I think the one in the dining room might hang down too low.

!

Happy, happy, joy, joy!  The fridge is in place!

Appliances are here!

Hi all,

Well, yesterday I talked to Bob Pendleton, my contractor about a few things.  He went to order the tile for the backsplash and they were out of stock.  So today I went back and picked out a different "color".  My sister, who went with me, said that it looks exactly the same.  I think it's a little lighter, but not much.

The electrician will be coming Monday or Tuesday.  The plumber decided to go deer hunting (bad timing!) so he won't be here until Thursday.  Backsplash tiles will be in Thursday.  So we're getting closer to finished.

The only appliance that's in place right now is the stove.  The rest are waiting for the electrical work.

Oven is in place!

Another shot of the stove side.  It's a convection oven with all these cool new features I'll have to figure out how to use.  

The dishwasher, and the microwave on top.  To the left you can see the side of the fridge.

The fridge is sitting backward so I can't get a good picture of the front, not enough space to get far enough away to take a picture.  

My faucet is still in its box, but here it is.  :)

Between the early morning delivery (7:30 a.m. on a Saturday!), the trips to the tile store, a trip to one pharmacy, a trip to the doctor's office, a trip to another pharmacy, switching out fridges and the task of figuring out which way the oven racks go in, I'm pretty tired!  I'm looking forward to having more to share next week as things get closer and closer to finished!
Joell

Counters and a Sink!

Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen,

After getting the bill to fix my car ($1400), I came home to new kitchen counters!!  The sink is in, but no faucet yet.  Here's the picture proof:

My printer/phone area.

The big box is my faucet.

The counters around the still non-existent stove.

I have a sink!  I can't use it, yet, but I have one!!!

So,  here's what I think is left:
1. backsplash
2. electrical outlets
3. floor boards
4. install appliances
5. need handles for the two drawers below the sink, even though they don't open, it looks strange to not have them there.
6. light fixtures
7. paint touch ups
8. possible work on the edge of the counter where it doesn't exactly meet up with the wall.

By this time next week, I'll hopefully have a complete kitchen!

Cabinets!!!

Hello,

First, I LOVE the smell of the fresh wood.  The cabinets look awesome!  It'll take some getting used to.  Here are pictures.

The left is where my printer and phone will go.  The right is the pantry!

The blank spot is where the fridge will go.  Then counter, then sink. The empty spot is for the dish washer.

The oven will go between these cabinets.

The microwave will be mounted underneath the two top cabinets.

It's interesting how the lighting makes the wood appear in various places. This is lookin into the kitchen from the entryway. The area at the far end will be the dining room.

Recycle and garbage cans!  :)

My pantry!!!  The shelves pull out.

Cabinets above the sink area.

Katie's checking it out.

Sniffling at the hardware.

It's almost like she's telling me something is missing there.

And she wouldn't be a cat if she didn't jump up and try to investigate.  I love the quizzical look on her face!

Now it's 7-10 days for the counters.  Woohoo!

I have a floor!

Yes!  I came home to find I have a floor!  Now this is exciting progress!  Here's the picture proof!

The entry hall and the carpeted hall.

Entry hall

The kitchen (and the cat checking it out)

You can see where the carpet to the living room and dining room is. And the cat making herself comfortable.

Looking through the kitchen from the dining area.

Oh, this brings hope!  Who knows what I'll come home to tomorrow!?

Ugh

Well, they had to cement or patch or something my floors.  My house is a bigger mess, I can't quit sneezing, and I'm tired of stuff being everywhere.  I can't open my fridge 'cause they left all their crap in front of it.  I've reached that ugly point where I'm not able to look past the yucky inconveniences to the lovely shiny future of a new kitchen.

That said, here are the pictures from today.